Both utility · Yanmar against Kubota
Yanmar SM475 vs Kubota M4D-071
| Spec | Yanmar SM475 | Kubota M4D-071 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$66,899 | ~$65,612 |
| What that price is | dealer list, not MSRP | MSRP, base build |
| Size class | Utility | Utility |
| Transmission | Power Shuttle | Power Shuttle |
| Engine hp | 74.0 hp | 72.1 hp |
| PTO hp | 64.1 hp | 60 hp |
| Loader lift | 3,325 lbsat the pivot pin | 2,674 lbsat the pivot pin |
| Three-point lift | 5,115 lbsat the ball ends | 3,307 lbs24 in behind the lift points |
| Hydraulic flow | 16.1 GPM | 16.7 GPM |
| Drive | 4WD | 4WD |
| Engine | Deutz | Kubota |
| Weight | 6,052 lbs | 6,008 lbs |
| Fuel tank | 23.8 gal | 23.8 gal |
| 4WD | Yes | Yes |
| Front loader | Yes | Yes |
| Cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Hydrostatic | No | No |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | No | No |
| Warranty | 10 yr / 3000 hr powertrain | 3 yr / 3000 hr powertrain |
A highlighted cell wins its row on the rule named above the table: more power, lift, capacity or flow, or a lower price. A lift row is left unwon whenever the two makers measured in different places, or where either of them did not say — a figure quoted at the pivot pin and one quoted 500 mm ahead of it describe the same loader and differ by roughly a third, so ranking them against each other would invent a result. Prices are typical list and move with dealer packages.
From owner discussion and long-term write-ups
What owners of each one say
Yanmar SM475
What they like
- True power shuttle with a wet multi-plate clutch, so direction changes under load do not touch a clutch pedal - a real advance on every geared Yanmar below it
- 5,115 lb Category 2 hitch capacity is 60% above the YM3 range and puts full-size utility implements in reach
- 64.1 PTO hp from 74 gross is only a 13% loss, matching the efficiency of the I-HMT machines without their complexity
- Dual-entry climate-controlled cab is standard rather than a separate model or an upcharge, which is unusual at this price
- 23.8-gallon tank is nearly double the YM3 range's 13.2 gallons, sized for genuine full days
- Two rear remote valves come standard where the rest of the line ships with one
What they complain about
- The Deutz engine breaks from the rest of the line, so the argument that Yanmar builds and services its own diesels does not apply to this model
- 16.1 GPM total flow is only 0.2 GPM above the 58.9 hp YM359, so hydraulic speed does not scale with the extra power
- At $66,899 it costs nearly as much as the YM342 and YM347 combined, and is a considerable step above anything else Yanmar sells
- Yanmar does not state whether the Deutz is turbocharged or what aftertreatment it carries, which is a notable omission at 74 hp
- 6,052 lb and 18.3 inches of clearance make it too large for the small-acreage work the rest of the range is built around
Kubota M4D-071
What they like
- Combines the 72.1 hp tune with the deluxe kit that the M4-071 does without - electro-hydraulic 4WD, two remotes and 540E
- 60 PTO hp from 72.1 engine hp, driven through a fully synchronized six-speed with an electro-hydraulic shuttle
- 3,307 lb hitch capacity at 24 in behind the lift points, with top-link draft sensing and mixed control
- The LA1154 reaches 133 in at the pivot pin, high enough to load a tandem trailer over the side
- Optional F18/R18 creeper box adds low ground speeds for specialty work
- 23.8 gal tank and 130 amp alternator suit long days with electric implements running
What they complain about
- $65,612 is $3,888 above the mechanically near-identical M4-071, and the extra buys convenience rather than capability
- 6,008 lb and 142 in long makes it the least manoeuvrable machine in this size band
- Cab only, so there is no cheaper open-station route into the deluxe spec
- Kubota's M-series powertrain warranty runs 36 months or 3,000 hours, half the 72-month term the BX through L tractors carry